Method for treating feedwater, feedwater treatment composition, and apparatus for treating feedwater

ABSTRACT

A method for treating feedwater is provided. The method includes steps of introducing a treatment composition into a feedwater stream to provide a treated feedwater stream containing scale inhibitor at a concentration of at least about 0.1 ppm, and combining the treated feedwater stream with a detersive composition. The scale inhibitor can include a phosphate scale inhibitor, a carbonate scale inhibitor, or a combination of a phosphate scale inhibitor and a carbonate scale inhibitor. The detersive composition can be provided as a cleaning composition, a rinse agent composition, or a drying agent composition. A treatment composition and an apparatus for treating feedwater are provided.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method for treating feedwater, afeedwater treatment composition, and an apparatus for treatingfeedwater.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A well-known problem in regions having hard water (i.e., watercontaining a high level of calcium or magnesium ions) is the formationof scale deposits. Particularly in applications where there are highlevels of carbonate and/or phosphate ions, the formation of Ca/Mg scalesof these species can lead to buildup that causes an unsightly residue(“film”). The terms “carbonate scale” and “phosphate scale” refer tosalts of carbonate and phosphonate with calcium, magnesium, or othermetal ions.

Carbonate scale and phosphate scale are particularly troublesome inmachine dishwashing applications because they have a tendency to causeunsightly residues or films on dishware, tableware, and especiallyglassware. This phenomenon is widely known as “hard water film.” Ingeneral, the presence of phosphates and carbonates are desirable inmachine dishwashing compositions because of their cleaning power orbuilding power. As a result, “anti-filming technologies” to reduce theformation of carbonate scale or phosphate scale resulting from automaticdishwashing have been described in the literature.

Exemplary anti-filming technologies have utilized polycarboxylates suchas polyacrylates and polymethacrylates. See U.S. Pat. No. 5,591,703.Polycarboxylate technologies assist in the reduction of hard waterfilming in automatic dishwashing, as well as in more general watertreatment applications. Another class of anti-filming materials toreduce phosphate and to some degree carbonate scale is thesulfonate/carboxylate copolymers. See U.S. Pat. No. 5,547,612 and U.S.Pat. No. 6,395,185. Commercially available examples ofsulfonate/carboxylate copolymers include Alcosperse 240™ from AlcoChemical and Acusol 586™ from Rohm and Haas Company. The copolymers canbe derived from combinations of sulfonate-containing and/orcarboxylate-containing ethylenically unsaturated monomers, such asacrylic acid, methylallylsulfonic acid, ethoxylate esters of acrylicacids, and variations thereof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A method for treating feedwater is provided according to the presentinvention. The method includes steps of introducing a feedwatertreatment composition into feedwater to provide treated feedwatercontaining scale inhibitor at a concentration of at least about 0.1 ppm,and combining the treated feedwater stream with a detersive compositionto provide a use composition. The use composition can be applied to anarticle.

The scale inhibitor can include a phosphate scale inhibitor, a carbonatescale inhibitor, or a combination of a phosphate scale inhibitor and acarbonate scale inhibitor. The phosphate scale inhibitor can include apolymer resulting from a reaction of an olefinically unsaturatedcarboxylic acid monomer and at least one of a copolymerizable sulfonatedmonomer, a copolymerizable nonionic monomer, or a mixture of acopolymerizable sulfonated monomer and a copolymerizable nonionicmonomer. The carbonate scale inhibitor can include phosphonates,polycarboxylates, phosphonocarboxylates, and phosphinocarboxylates.

The detersive composition can include a cleaning composition, a rinseagent composition, or a drying agent composition. The treated feedwatercomposition can be combined with the detersive composition.

A treatment composition is provided according to the present invention.The treatment composition can include about 5 wt. % to about 95 wt. % ofa scale inhibitor and at least about 5 wt. % of a solidifying agent toprovide the treatment composition as a solid or at least about 5 wt. %of a diluent to provide the treatment composition as a flowable liquid.The treatment composition can be provided as a solid or as a flowableliquid.

In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the treatmentcomposition can be provided comprising about 10 wt. % to about 100 wt. %of a scale inhibitor and can be provided in the form of a compressedblock having a size of about 1 pound to about 10 pounds.

An apparatus is provided according to the present invention. Theapparatus includes a feedwater inlet for providing feedwater, a treatedfeedwater outlet for providing treated feedwater, a treatmentcomposition reservoir comprising a treatment composition, and atreatment composition delivery line for introducing the treatmentcomposition from the treatment composition reservoir into the feedwaterto provide the treated feedwater.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an apparatus for treating feedwateraccording to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of an alternative embodiment of an apparatusfor treating feedwater according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A feedwater treatment composition refers to a composition that can beintroduced into feedwater to provide treated feedwater. The term“feedwater” refers to the water that is combined with a detersivecomposition to provide a detersive use composition for application tovarious articles. Detersive compositions are often available asconcentrates and require dilution to achieve a use composition forapplication to various articles. Water that is added as water ofdilution can be referred to as feedwater. In addition, the feedwater canbe referred to as a “feedwater stream” to refer to a continuous streamof water. The feedwater treatment composition can be added to feedwaterin a batch operation or in a continuous operation. The reference to a“feedwater stream” reflects a continuous operation and the reference to“feedwater” can be batch or continuous.

Treated feedwater can be used the same way that feedwater is used. Thatis, the treated feedwater can be combined with a detersive compositionto provide a detersive use composition, and the detersive usecomposition can be used to treat articles. Exemplary articles that canbe treated with the detersive use composition include motor vehicleexteriors, textiles, food contacting articles, clean-in-place (CIP)equipment, and hard surfaces. Exemplary motor vehicle exteriors includecars, trucks, trailers, etc. that are commonly washed in commercialvehicle washing facilities. Exemplary textiles include those textilesthat generally are considered within the term “laundry” and includeclothes, towels, sheets, etc. In addition, textiles include curtains.Exemplary food contacting articles include dishes, glasses, eatingutensils, bowls, cooking articles, food storage articles, etc. ExemplaryCIP equipment include pipes, tanks, heat exchangers, valves,distribution circuits, pumps, etc. Exemplary hard surfaces includefloors, counters, glass, walls, etc. In general, hard surfaces caninclude those surfaces commonly referred to in the cleaning industry asenvironmental surfaces.

The detersive composition refers to a composition that provides cleaningproperties, rinsing properties, or drying properties. Exemplarydetersive compositions include detergent compositions, rinse agentcompositions, or drying agent compositions. Exemplary detergentcompositions include warewashing detergent compositions, laundrydetergent compositions, CIP detergent compositions, environmentalcleaning compositions, hard surface cleaning compositions (such as thosefor use on counters or floors), motor vehicle washing compositions, andglass cleaning compositions. Exemplary rinse agent compositions includethose compositions used to reduce streaking or filming on a surface suchas glass. Exemplary drying agent compositions include dewateringcompositions. In the vehicle washing industry, it is often desirable toinclude a dewatering step where a sheeting or beading agent is appliedto the vehicle exterior.

After applying a detersive use composition to an article, the articlecan be rinsed with a water rinse that is or is not characterized astreated feedwater. For example, a water rinse can be applied that istreated feedwater. Alternatively, a water inse can be applied that isnot treated feedwater. Water that has not been treated with a feedwatertreatment composition can be referred to as “non-treated water.”

The feedwater treatment composition can be referred to as the “treatmentcomposition.” The feedwater treatment composition includes a scaleinhibitor to provide the resulting use composition with scale inhibitionproperties. The scale inhibitor is provided to reduce scaling that wouldresult from components in the water, components in the detersivecomposition, or components in both the water and the detersivecomposition. Scaling can sometimes be referred to as filming. Exemplarytypes of scaling include carbonate scaling and phosphonate scaling.Carbonate scaling can result from calcium bicarbonate in the water andalkalinity in the detersive composition. Phosphate scaling typicallyresults from phosphate in the detersive composition. Phosphate is not atypical species found in most natural water environments. Carbonate isfound in many detersive compositions, and is a reactor product ofsoluble calcium bicarbonate water hardness with heat or alkalinity.Exemplary types of scale inhibitors that can be included in thetreatment composition include carbonate scale inhibitors, phosphatescale inhibitors or mixtures of carbonate scale inhibitors and phosphatescale inhibitors. It is expected that other types of scale inhibitorscan be included in the treatment composition, if desired, to handle thetype of scaling that may be a problem in a given application orenvironment.

By adding the scale inhibitor to the feedwater before the detersivecomposition is added or introduced into the feedwater, the scaleinhibitor can be more effective in reducing scaling compared to when thescale inhibitor is added as part of a detersive composition. It isbelieved that certain scale inhibitors can act as a threshold treatmentagent to reduce scaling if they are introduced into the water prior tointroduction into the water of scaling causing components in thedetersive composition. The phrase “threshold treatment agent” is meantto describe an activity that can be characterized as substoichiometric.That is, the scale inhibitor can be effective at concentration levelsthat are lower than would be expected based on a stoichiometricequivalence of the scale inhibitor and the scale causing component. Onetheory explaining why the scale inhibitor can work better as a result ofbeing dissolved in the water prior to the introduction of the detersivecomposition is that the scale inhibitor prevents or reducesmacrocrystalline growth. As a result, the scale inhibitor can be used ata lower concentration than would be expected based upon a stoichiometricamount to achieve the desired level of chelation or sequestration.

Detersive compositions can be provided including one or more scaleinhibitor to address scaling in a particular application or environment.It is believed that by providing the scale inhibitor along with thedetersive composition, the scale inhibitor is less effective because itis generally not available to act substoichiometrically. By introducingthe scale inhibitor into the feedwater before introduction of thedetersive 110 composition into the feedwater, it is believed that thescale inhibitor can be more effective or successful in deterring scaleformation because of its ability to act substoichiometrically. Inaddition, because the scale inhibitor can be effective atsubstoichiometric levels, it is believed that significantly less scaleinhibitor can be used to achieve desired results when applied tofeedwater prior to the introduction of the detersive compositioncompared with the introduction of the scale inhibitor along with thedetersive composition. It should be appreciated that these theories arejust that. They are theories proposed to explain the observation ofenhanced anti-scaling properties when the scale inhibitor are introducedinto the feedwater prior to introduction of the detersive composition.

Because of the introduction of the scale inhibitor to the feedwaterprior to introduction into the feedwater of the detersive composition,the detersive composition can be adjusted to remove or reduce the scaleinhibitor that may be present in the detersive composition. Byintroducing the scale inhibitor into the feedwater prior to introductioninto the feedwater of the detersive composition, less scale inhibitorcan be used to achieve better results and the scale inhibitor componentof the detersive composition can be removed.

The scale inhibitor can be provided as a carbonate scale inhibitor, aphosphate scale inhibitor, or a combination of a carbonate scaleinhibitor and a phosphate scale inhibitor. In addition, the scaleinhibitor can include inhibitors directed at scaling other thancarbonate scale and phosphate scale.

In order to introduce the scale inhibitor into the feedwater, numerousapparatus designs can be configured including batch designs, continuousdesigns, and combination batch and continuous designs. In the case of abatch design, the treatment composition can be added to a body of waterto provide treated feedwater that can be used as desired. It is expectedthat a continuous operation may be advantageous by allowing the treatedfeedwater to be prepared as it is needed and without having to create astorage tank for holding the treated feedwater. In a continuous design,the scale inhibitor can be introduced into a feedwater stream as thefeedwater stream is being directed for subsequent use. In addition,facilities can be retrofit to include a feedwater treatment apparatusfor continuous designs relatively conveniently. FIGS. 1 and 2 providealternative designs of continuous feedwater treatment techniques.

Referring to FIG. 1, a schematic of an apparatus for treating feedwateraccording to the present invention is shown at reference number 10. Theapparatus 10 includes a feedwater inlet 12, a treated feedwater outlet14, a treatment composition reservoir 16, and a treatment compositiondelivery line 18. In one embodiment, an aspirator 20 can be used to drawthe treatment composition 22 from the treatment composition reservoir16, through the treatment composition delivery line 18, and into thefeedwater 24. A flow control device 26 such as a valve 28 can beprovided in the treatment composition delivery line 18 to control theflow of the treatment composition 22 into the feedwater 24. Theaspirator 20 can be any type of aspirating device that draws anotherfluid into a flowing liquid stream. The resulting treated feedwater 30can be provided having a desired concentration of the treatmentcomposition therein.

Referring to FIG. 2, an alternative embodiment of an apparatus fortreating feedwater is shown at reference number 40. The apparatus 40includes a feedwater inlet 42, a treated feedwater outlet 44, atreatment composition reservoir 46, and a treatment composition deliveryline 48. According to the apparatus 40, the treatment composition 52 canbe pumped into the feedwater 54 via the treatment composition pump 56 toprovide the treated feedwater 58. The treatment composition pump 56 canbe any type of pump that causes the treatment composition 52 to flowinto the feedwater 54 so that the resulting treated feedwater 58 has thedesired concentration of the treatment composition 52 therein. Exemplarypumps that can be used include proportioning pumps, peristaltic pumps,piston pumps, bellows pumps, squeeze tube pumps, gear pumps, etc.

An exemplary apparatus that can be used for treating feedwater and thatutilizes a venturi is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,656,353 B2 to Kilaweeet al. and assigned to Ecolab Inc., the assignee of the above-identifiedpatent application. The entire disclosure of U.S. Pat. No. 6,656,353 B2is incorporated herein by reference.

The dispensing device disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,656,353 B2 providesfor dispensing of a chemical composition into water flowing through aflow line. A portion of the water from the flow line is diverted tocontact a solid chemical composition and form a liquid concentrate, andthe liquid concentrate is drawn into the water flow line as a result ofa venturi action. Metering of the liquid concentrate allows one toachieve the desired concentration in the water.

Treatment Composition

The treatment composition can be available in various forms including asa solid, a liquid, a gel, or paste. When provided as a solid, thetreatment composition can be provided in the form of a block, pellets,aggregate, powder, capsules, tablets, etc. When provided as a block, thetreatment composition can have a size of greater than about 1 pound.Providing the treatment composition as a block can be advantageous whenit is desired to periodically add blocks to a hopper or other containerwhere a liquid concentrate is generated as a result of liquid flowingagainst a surface of the block. When the treatment composition isprovided as a block, the block can have a size of at least about 1pound. The block can be provided having a size as large as desired for aparticular application. In many applications, it is expected that ablock will have a size of less than about 10 pounds although it shouldbe understood that the block can have a size that is much larger than 10pounds. The block can have a size of between about 2 pounds and about 6pounds. Providing the treatment composition in various other solid formscan be advantageous when it is desired to generate a liquid concentratethat is then added to the feedwater to provide treated feedwater.

The treatment composition includes a scale inhibitor. Other componentsthat can be included in the treatment composition including hardeningagents and diluents. Hardening agents can be included to provide thetreatment composition as a solid in the form of a block, pellets,aggregate, capsule, tablet, etc. Diluents can be included in thetreatment composition to help maintain the flowability of the treatmentcomposition when it is provided in the form of a liquid. In addition,diluent can be included when it is desired to dilute the treatmentcomposition when the treatment composition is provided as a solid,liquid, gel, or paste. The diluent can, if desired, be characterized asa filler.

The treatment composition can include the scale inhibitor in an amountthat provides a treatment composition having the desired amount of scaleinhibitor therein. For example, the treatment composition can includeabout 0.1 wt. % to about 100 wt. % of the scale inhibitor, and caninclude about 10 wt. % to about 100 wt. % of the scale inhibitor. Thescale inhibitor can include carbonate scale inhibitor, phosphate scaleinhibitor, or a mixture of a carbonate scale inhibitor and a phosphatescale inhibitor. An additional component of the treatment compositioncan be a solidifying agent and/or a diluent. The solidifying agent canbe used to provide the treatment composition as a solid. It should beunderstood that a treatment composition can be provided as a solidwithout the use of a solidifying agent. For example, a treatmentcomposition containing 100 wt. % scale inhibitor can be compressed intoa tablet, a pellet, or a block. When compressed into a block, it isexpected that the block can have a size of about 1 pound to about 10pounds. The treatment composition can include a diluent to provide thetreatment composition in the form of a liquid. By way of example, thetreatment composition can include at least about 5 wt. % of the scaleinhibitor and at least 5 wt. % of the solidifying agent or the diluent.In addition, the treatment composition can include about 5 wt. % toabout 95 wt. % of the scale inhibitor and about 5 wt. % to about 95 wt.% of the solidifying agent or the diluent. In the case of a solid, thetreatment composition can include about 10 wt. % to about 90 wt. % ofthe scale inhibitor and about 10 wt. % to about 90 wt. % of thesolidifying agent, and the treatment composition can include about 15wt. % to about 85 wt. % of the scale inhibitor and about 15 wt. % toabout 85 wt. % of the solidifying agent. In the case of a liquidtreatment composition, the treatment composition can include about 5 wt.% to about 75 wt. % of the scale inhibitor and about 25 wt. % to about95 wt. % of the diluent, and the treatment composition can include about10 wt. % to about 60 wt. % of the scale inhibitor and about 40 wt. % toabout 90 wt. % of the diluent.

It is desirable to provide the treated feedwater with a concentration ofscale inhibitor that is sufficient to provide a desired level of scaleinhibition. For example, the scale inhibitor can be provided in thetreated feedwater at a concentration of at least about 0.1 ppm toachieve a desired level of scale inhibition. The upper limit on theamount of scale inhibitor in the feedwater composition can be providedbased upon a decrease of scale inhibition properties as theconcentration of scale inhibitor increases. In general, it may bedesirable to avoid the cost associated with adding additional scaleinhibitor when the increased amount of scale inhibitor fails to provideadditional scale inhibition properties. In general, it is expected thatan upper limit on the concentration of scale inhibitor in the treatedfeedwater can be provided at about 200 ppm. The concentration of scaleinhibitor in the treated feedwater can be about 0.5 ppm to about 150ppm, about 1 ppm to about 100 ppm, and about 2 ppm to about 50 ppm.

The scale inhibitor can include a carbonate scale inhibitor, a phosphatescale inhibitor, or a combination of a carbonate scale inhibitor and aphosphate scale inhibitor. In general, it is believed that the presenceof the carbonate scale inhibitor helps reduce the occurrence ofcarbonate scaling as a result of the presence of carbonate, and thepresence of a phosphate scale inhibitor helps reduce the occurrence ofphosphate scaling as a result of the presence of phosphate. Thetreatment composition can include both a carbonate scale inhibitor and aphosphate scale inhibitor, and can include one or more type of either orboth of the carbonate scale inhibitor and the phosphate scale inhibitor.

Carbonate Scale Inhibitor

The carbonate scale inhibitor can be characterized as a component thatwhen introduced into feedwater, has an effective of reducing carbonatescaling as a result of calcium bicarbonate that may be present in thefeedwater or alkalinity in the detersive composition. Exemplarycarbonate scale inhibitors include phosphonates, polycarboxylates, ormixtures of phosphonates and polycarboxylates. Exemplary phosphonatesinclude 1-hydroxyethane-1,1-diphosphonic acid CH₃C(OH) [PO(OH)₂;aminotri(methylenephosphonic acid) N[CH₂PO(OH)₂]₃;aminotri(methylenephosphonate), sodium salt

2-hydroxyethliminobis(methylenephosphonic acid)HOCH₂CH₂N[CH₂PO(OH)₂]₂]₂; diethylenetriaminepenta(methylenephosphonate),sodium salt C₉H_((28-x))N₃Na_(x)O₁₅P₅ (x=7);hexamethylenediamine(tetramethylenephosphonate), potassium saltC₁₀H_((28-x))N₂K_(x)O₁₂P₄ (x=6);bix(hexamethylene)triamine(pentamethylenephosphonic acid)(HO₂)POCH₂N[(CH₂)₆N[CH₂PO(OH)₂]₂]₂; and phosphorus acid H₃PO₃. Exemplarypolycarboxylates include polyacrylic acid, polymaleic acid,maleic/olefin copolymer, acrylic/maleic copolymer, polymethacrylic acid,acrylic acid-methacrylic acid copolymers, hydrolyzed polyacrylamide,hydrolyzed polymethacrylamide, hydrolyzed polyamide-methacrylamidecopolymers, hydrolyzed polyacrylonitrile, hydrolyzedpolymethacrylonitrile, hydrolyzed acrylonitrile-methacrylonitrilecopolymers.Phosphate Scale Inhibitor

Phosphate scale inhibitors that can be used include those componentsthat reduce phosphate scaling when introduced into a feedwater prior tothe introduction of a detersive composition containing phosphate. Itshould be understood that many components that provide phosphate scaleinhibition may also provide some carbonate scale inhibition. Inaddition, many of the components identified as phosphate scaleinhibitors can also be characterized as carbonate scale inhibitors.Exemplary phosphate scale inhibitors include polymers resulting from areaction of an olefinically unsaturated carboxylic acid monomer and acopolymerizable sulfonated monomer, a copolymerizable nonionic monomer,or a mixture of a copolymerizable sulfonated monomer and acopolymerizable nonionic monomer.

The olefinically unsaturated carboxylic acid monomer can include C₃-C₄₀,monocarboxylic acids, C₃-C₄₀ dicarboxylic acids, or C₃-C₄₀polycarboxylic acids. The olefinically unsaturated carboxylic acidmonomer can be linear, branched, or cyclic. The olefinically unsaturatedcarboxylic acid monomer can be provided as a salt or an anhydride.Exemplary salts include alkali metal salts, alkaline earth metal salts,and ammonium salts. Exemplary olefinically unsaturated carboxylic acidmonomers include acrylic acid co-monomers such as acrylic acid,methacrylic acid, ethacrylic acid, alpha-chloro-acrylic acid,alpha-cyano acrylic acid, beta methyl-acrylic acid (crotonic acid),alpha-phenylacrylic acid, beta-acryloxy propionic acid, sorbic acid,alpha-chloro sorbic acid, angelic acid, cinnamic acid, p-chloro cinnamicacid, beta-styryl acrylic acid (1-carboxy-4-phenyl butadiene-1,3),itaconic acid, maleic acid, citraconic acid, mesaconic acid, glutaconicacid, aconitic acid, fumaric acid, and tricarboxyethylene. For thepolycarboxylic acid monomers, an anhydride group can be formed by theelimination of one molecule of water from two carboxyl groups located onthe same polycarboxylic acid molecule. Exemplary carboxylic monomersinclude monoolefinic acrylic acids having a substituent selected fromthe class consisting of hydrogen, halogen, hydroxyl, C₁-C₂₀ alkyl,C₆-C₁₂ aryl, C₆-C₁₆ aralkyl, C₇-C₁₆ alkaryl radicals and C₅-C₁₆cycloaliphatic radicals. As used herein, (meth) acrylic acid is intendedto include acrylic acid and methacrylic acid. Preferred unsaturatedcarboxylic acid monomers include acrylic and methacrylic acid.

Exemplary copolymerizable sulfonated monomers include allylhydroxypropanyl sulfonate ether, allylsulfonic acid, methallylsulfonicacid, styrene sulfonic acid, vinyl toluene sulfonic acid, acrylamidoalkane sulfonic acid, allyloxybenzene sulfonic acid,2-alkylallyloxybenzene sulfonic acid(s) such as 4-sulfophenol methallylether, and the alkali or alkaline earth metal or ammonium salts thereof.

Exemplary copolymerizable nonionic monomers include vinyl or allylcompounds selected from the group consisting of C₁-C₆ alkyl esters of(meth)acrylic acid, acrylamide and the C₁-C₆ alkyl-substitutedacrylamides, the N-alkyl-substituted acrylamides and theN-alkanol-substituted acrylamides, N-vinyl pyrrolidone or any othervinyl amide. Also useful are the C₁-C₆ alkyl esters and the C₁-C₆ alkylhalf-esters of unsaturated vinylic acids, such as maleic acid anditaconic acid. Exemplary copolymerizable nonionic monomers are selectedfrom the group consisting of methyl (meth)acrylate, mono- and dimethylmaleate, mono- and di-ethyl itaconate, and (meth)allyl acetates,propionates and valerates. Crosslinking monomers such as diallylmaleate, alkylene bisacrylamide and triallyl cyanurate may also beemployed herein to provide crosslinking. It should be understood thatthe term “acid” includes not only the acid function but alsocorresponding anhydride and salt forms. The salts may be alkali metals,alkaline earth metal, ammonium, and C₂-C₁₀ alkanolammonium types.

The polymer can be prepared based upon a ratio of the olefinicallyunsaturated carboxylic acid monomer and the other component including acopolymerizable sulfonated monomer, a copolymerizable nonionic monomer,or a combination of a copolymerizable sulfonated monomer and acopolymerizable nonionic monomer in amounts sufficient to providedesired phosphate scale inhibition. In general, the polymer can beprepared based upon about 50 wt. % to about 99 wt. % of the olefinicallyunsaturated carboxylic acid monomer. In addition, the polymer can beprepared based upon about 70 wt. % to about 98 wt. % of the olefinicallyunsaturated carboxylic acid monomer, and can be prepared based uponabout 75 wt. % to about 95 wt. % of the olefinically unsaturatedcarboxylic acid monomer. In addition, the amount of the copolymerizablesulfonated monomer, the copolymerizable nonionic monomer, or thecombination of copolymerizable sulfonated monomer and copolymerizablenonionic monomer can be provided at about 1 wt. % to about 50 wt. %,about 2 wt. % to about 30 wt. %, and about 5 wt. % to about 25 wt. %.The weight average molecular weight of the polymers can be about 1500 toabout 250,000, and can be from about 5,000 to about 100,000.

An exemplary phosphate scale-inhibiting copolymer includes atetrapolymer of 4-sulfophenol methallyl ether, sodium methallylsulfonate, acrylic acid, and methyl methacrylate. The monomer,4-sulfophenol methallyl ether, has the formula (I):CH₂═C(CH₃)CH₂OC₆H₄SO₃M  (I)where M represents hydrogen, alkali metal, alkaline earth metal orammonium ions. Other exemplary phosphate scale-inhibiting copolymersinclude: copolymer of acrylic acid and 4-sulfophenol methallyl ether;copolymer of acrylic acid and 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonate;terpolymer of acrylic acid, 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonate andsodium styrene sulfonate; copolymer of acrylic acid and vinylpyrrolicone; and a copolymer of acrylic acid and acrylamide. Exemplarycommercially available copolymers that can be used as phosphate scaleinhibitors include: Alcosperse® 240, Aquatreat® AR 540 and Aquatreat®MPS available from Alco Chemical; Acumer® 3100, Acumer® 2100 and Acumer®2000 available from Rohm and Haas Company; Goodrich K-798, K-775 andK-797 available from BF Goodrich; ACP 1042 available from ISPtechnologies, Inc.; and polyacrylic acid/acrylamide available fromAldrich.

Phosphate and carbonate scale inhibitors can include “phosphinoacrylicpolymers” that result from the condensation of low molecular weight,unsaturated monomers, such as those used to form the acrylic polymersdescribed above, with sodium hypophosphite. For example,phosphinoacrylic polymers can have the general formula:H—[CH(CO₂H)CH₂]_(n)P-(═O)OH[CH₂CH(CO₂H)]_(m) ⁻H wherein the molecularweight and ratio of propionic acid units to the ⁻P(═O)(OH)—unit may bevaried over a wide range. For example, n+m may vary from about 3 toabout 75 and from about 4 to about 70. Commercially availablephosphinopolycarboxylic acids having weight ratios of total polyacrylicacid to phosphinoxy of from about 3:1 to 35:1 and molecular weights ofabout 200-5000, preferably about 250-3000, are useful in the presentinvention. An exemplary phosphinopolycarboxylic acid is available asBelsperse® 161 from BioLabs as a 46-52% aqueous solution (molecularweight of about 1200). Phosphinoacrylic polymers or phosphinoacrylatepolymers were developed by a division of Ciba-Geigy and is now part ofBioLabs. A Belsperse® 161 type product is available from Buckman as BSI®361, from Vulcan as Mayosperse® 500 and from Rohm and Haas as Acumer®4161.

When the treatment composition includes a mixture of a carbonate scaleinhibitor and a phosphate scale inhibitor, the weight ratio of thecarbonate scale inhibitor to the phosphate scale inhibitor can beselected to provide the desired levels of carbonate scale inhibition andphosphate scale inhibition. By way of example, the weight ratio of thecarbonate scale inhibitor to the phosphate scale inhibitor can be about1:1 to about 1:10.

Hardening Agent

The feedwater treatment composition can include a hardening agent in anamount sufficient to provide the composition as a solid. The hardeningagent can be referred to as the solidifying agent.

The feedwater treatment composition, when provided as a solid, includesa sufficient amount of the hardening agent so that the compositionremains as a solid under conditions normally encountered when storingthe composition. In general, this means that the solid should remain asa solid and resist melting during transportation and storage. Forexample, the composition should be capable of resisting melting at 120°F. and atmospheric pressure. The amount of the hardening agent will besufficient so that the feedwater treatment composition remains as asolid until it is contacted with water. In the feedwater treatmentcomposition, the scale inhibitor is considered the active component ofthe composition and it is generally desirable to provide as much of theactive component in the feedwater treatment composition as possible.

An exemplary hardening agent includes polyethylene glycol. Polyethyleneglycol can be provided as a mixture of different molecular weightpolyethylene glycols. In general, when polyethylene glycol is used as ahardening agent, it can be used in an amount sufficient to providehardening of the feedwater treatment composition. For example, theamount of polyethylene glycol in a hardened feedwater treatmentcomposition can be provided at least about 5 wt. %. In general, it isexpected that sufficient hardening can be provided at an amount ofpolyethylene glycol that is less than about 55 wt. %. The soliddetergent composition can include about 8 wt. % to about 30 wt. %polyethylene glycol. In addition, it should be understood that thefeedwater treatment composition can include mixtures of varioushardening agents and that the amount of polyethylene glycol, when usedwith other hardening agents, may be relatively small as a result of atleast part of the hardening effect being contributed by other agents.

An exemplary hardening agent includes urea. The feedwater treatmentcomposition can include a sufficient amount of urea to provide thecomposition as a solid. In general, the amount of urea in thecomposition can be at least about 5 wt. %. In addition, it is generallyexpected that the hardening effect can be provided by including anamount of urea at less than about 32 wt. %. The solid composition caninclude urea at a composition of about 8 wt. % to about 26 wt. %.

When the scale inhibitor is provided as an acid, a solid can be formedby combining the acid with an alkaline metal hydroxide to form analkaline sale of the scale inhibitor. By way of example, the scaleinhibitor can be combined with the alkaline metal hydroxide in amountsof about 10 wt. % to about 90 wt. % of the scale inhibitor and about 10wt. % to about 90 wt. % of the alkaline metal hydroxide. In addition,the scale inhibitor can be provided in an amount of about 15 wt. % toabout 75 wt. % and the alkaline metal hydroxide can be provided in anamount of about 15 wt. % to about 75 wt. %.

It should be understood that combinations of various hardening agentscan be used to provide a hardening effect. In the case wherecombinations of different hardening agents are used, it is expected thatthe amount of each of the types of hardening agent may be less thanwould be necessary if that were the only hardening agent used to providethe feedwater treatment composition as a solid. In general, it isxpected that the feedwater treatment composition can include a hardeningagent in an mount of about 10 wt. % to about 90 wt. % to provide solidproperties. In addition, the mount of hardening agent can be provided inthe feedwater treatment composition in n amount of about 15 wt. % toabout 90 wt. %.

Diluent

A diluent can be included in the feedwater treatment composition to helpmaintain stability or solubility of the treatment composition. Anexemplary diluent that can be provided in the treatment compositionincludes water. In the case of a liquid treatment composition, theamount of diluent can be provided up to about 95 wt. %. In general, itis expected that if a diluent is going to be used in the treatmentcomposition, it can be included in an amount of at least about 0.1 wt.%. In addition, fillers can be included in the treatment composition andthe fillers can be characterized as a form of diluent. In the case of asolid treatment composition, exemplary fillers that can be used includepotassium chloride, sodium chloride, and sodium sulfate. It is expectedthat when the solid treatment composition includes a filler, it will beincluded in the composition in an amount of at least about 0.01 wt. %and can be provided in any amount to provide the desired level of“fill.” Exemplary upper amounts of filler in the solid detergentcomposition can be, for example, 10 wt. %, 8 wt. %, or 5 wt. %.

In the case of a liquid treatment composition, a filler that can be usedincludes water. When water is included in the liquid treatmentcomposition, it can be included in amounts up to about 95 wt. % and canbe included in amounts of about 10 wt. % to about 80 wt. %, and about 25wt. % to about 75 wt. %.

Other Components

The feedwater treatment composition can be used to provide a treatedfeedwater stream for a detersive composition. The Applicants have foundthat by introducing a scale inhibitor into the feedwater prior tointroduction of the chemicals normally associated with a detersivecomposition, enhanced scale inhibition can be achieved. The feedwatertreatment composition can be formulated so that the composition includeslittle or none of the other components often encountered in a detersivecomposition. The Applicants have found that getting the scale inhibitorinto the feedwater prior to introduction of a detersive composition intothe feedwater provides enhanced scale inhibition compared withintroducing the scale inhibitor as part of the detersive composition.Accordingly, the feedwater treatment composition can be provided so thatcomponents other than the scale inhibitor, the solidifying agent, or thediluent can be limited. Exemplary components that can be excluded fromthe treatment composition include anti-redeposition agents, surfaceactive agents or surfactants, bleaching agents, brighteners, corrosioninhibitors, and enzymes. If any of these components are present in thetreatment composition, they can be present at sufficiently low levels.For example, the anti-redeposition agent can be excluded at levelsgreater than 1 wt. %. The surface active agent or surfactants can beexcluded at levels greater than about 0.1 wt. %. The bleaching agentscan be excluded at levels greater than about 0.1 wt. %. The brightenercan be excluded at levels greater than about 0.1 wt. %. The corrosioninhibitor can be excluded at levels greater than about 1 wt. %. Theenzyme can be excluded at levels greater than about 0.01 wt. %.

It is expected that by introducing the scale inhibitor into thefeedwater prior to introduction of the detersive composition into thefeedwater, it is expected that the detersive composition can be adjustedto remove certain component that might have been provided in thedetersive composition for providing anti-filming properties. Althoughthe detersive composition can be adjusted in view of the treatment tothe feedwater, it is believed that the detersive composition can be usedas is if desired.

Detersive Composition

The treated feedwater stream can be combined with a detersivecomposition to provide a detersive use composition. The detersivecomposition refers to compositions that provide a cleaning effect, arinsing effect, or a drying effect. Compositions that provide cleaningeffect are often referred to as detergent compositions. Compositionsthat provide rinsing effect are often referred to as rinse agent orsheeting agent compositions. Compositions that provide drying effect areoften referred to as drying agent compositions.

Detersive compositions often include various components such as alkalinesources, surfactants, chelating/sequestering agents, solvents, oxidizingagents, reducing agents, bleaching agents, bleach activators, andenzymes. Examples of these components are described. It should beunderstood that additional components can be used in the detersivecomposition, when desired.

The detersive composition can include a source of alkalinity to providea detersive use composition having a desired pH. Exemplary sources ofalkalinity include the alkali metal hydroxides, alkaline earth metalhydroxides, amine including the alkylamines and ethanolamines, alkalimetal carbonates or bicarbonates, silicates, and so forth, and mixturesthereof.

A variety of surfactants can be used in the detersive composition,including anionic, nonionic, cationic, and zwitterionic surfactants,which are commercially available from a number of sources. Anionic andnonionic agents are preferred. For a discussion of surfactants, seeKirk-Othmer, Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, Third Edition, volume8, pages 900-912. Preferably, the detersive composition comprises acleaning agent in an amount effective to provide a desired level ofcleaning. The detersive composition can include about 0 to about 20 wt.% cleaning agent, or about 1.5 wt. % to about 15 wt. % cleaning agent.

Anionic surfactants useful in the present cleaning compositions,include, for example, carboxylates such as alkylcarboxylates (carboxylicacid salts) and polyalkoxycarboxylates, alcohol ethoxylate carboxylates,nonylphenol ethoxylate carboxylates; sulfonates such as alkylsulfonates,alkylbenzenesulfonates, alkylarylsulfonates, sulfonated fatty acidesters; sulfates such as sulfated alcohols, sulfated alcoholethoxylates, sulfated alkylphenols, alkylsulfates, sulfosuccinates,alkylether sulfates; and phosphate esters such as alkylphosphate esters.Exemplary anionics are sodium alkylarylsulfonate, alpha-olefinsulfonate,and fatty alcohol sulfates.

Nonionic surfactants useful in the detersive composition, include thosehaving a polyalkylene oxide polymer as a portion of the surfactantmolecule. Such nonionic surfactants include, for example, chlorine-,benzyl-, methyl-, ethyl-, propyl-, butyl-, and other alkyl-cappedpolyethylene glycol ethers of fatty alcohols; polyalkylene oxide freenonionics such as alkyl polyglycosides; sorbitan and sucrose esters andtheir ethoxylates; alkoxylated ethylene diamine; alcohol alkoxylatessuch as alcohol ethoxylate propoxylates, alcohol propoxylates, alcoholpropoxylate ethoxylate propoxylates, alcohol ethoxylate butoxylates;nonylphenol ethoxylate, polyoxyethylene glycol ethers; carboxylic acidesters such as glycerol esters, polyoxyethylene esters, ethoxylated andglycol esters of fatty acids; carboxylic amides such as diethanolaminecondensates, monoalkanolamine condensates, polyoxyethylene fatty acidamides; and polyalkylene oxide block copolymers including an ethyleneoxide/propylene oxide block copolymer such as those commerciallyavailable under the trademark PLURONIC (BASF-Wyandotte). Siliconesurfactants such as the ABIL B8852 can also be used.

Cationic surfactants useful for inclusion in a detersive composition forsanitizing or fabric softening, include amines such as primary,secondary and tertiary monoamines with C₁₈ alkyl or alkenyl chains,ethoxylated alkylamines, alkoxylates of ethylenediamine, imidazoles suchas a 1-(2-hydroxyethyl0-2-imidazoline, a2-alkyl-1-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-imidazoline; and quaternary ammonium salts,as for example, alkylquaternary ammonium chloride surfactants such asn-alkyl(C₁₂-C₁₈)dimethylbenzyl ammonium chloride,n-tetradecyldimethylbenzylammonium chloride monohydrate, and anaphthalene-substituted quaternary ammonium chloride such asdimethyl-1-naphthylmethylammonium chloride.

Chelating/sequestering agents can provide water hardness control in thealkaline wash solution, and more importantly, can provide assistance inthe soil removal process by interacting with various calcium andmagnesium complexes of both organic and inorganic soil components. Waterhardness ions can negatively interfere with the cleaning process byforming less soluble complexes with fatty acids or other surfactants.Chelating/sequestering agents provide water hardness control byinteracting with water hardness ions such as calcium and magnesiumhydroxides, carbonates, sulfates, chlorides, and other ions which areless soluble in alkaline solutions and which, upon exposure to heat asduring the dehydrating step, may precipitate from solution. Thechelating/sequestering agents thus help to keep the water hardness ionsin solution.

Any chelating/sequestering agents known to those in the art may findutility herein. Examples of suitable chelating/sequestering agentsinclude, but are not limited to, aminocarboxylic acids, condensedphosphates, phosphonates, polyacrylates, alkali metal gluconates,citrates, etc.

In general, any chelating molecule which is capable of coordinating(i.e., binding) the metal ions commonly found in natural water toprevent the metal ions from interfering with the action of the otherdetersive ingredients of a cleaning composition may find utility herein.The chelating/sequestering agent may also function as a threshold agentwhen included in an effective amount. Preferably, a cleaning compositionincludes about 0.1-1 wt-%, preferably from about 0.05-5 wt-%, of achelating/sequestering agent.

More particularly, suitable aminocarboxylic acids include, for example,n-hydroxyethyliminodiacetic acid, nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA),ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA),N-hydroxyethyl-ethylenediaminetri-acetic acid (HEDTA),diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA), and the like.

Suitable examples of condensed phosphates useful in the presentcomposition include sodium and potassium orthophosphate, sodium andpotassium pyrophosphate, sodium tripolyphosphate, sodiumhexametaphosphate, and the like. A condensed phosphate may also assist,to a limited extent, in solidification of the composition by fixing thefree water present in the composition as water of hydration.

For a further discussion of chelating agents/sequestrants, seeKirk-Othmer, Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, Third Edition, volume5, pages 339-366 and volume 23, pages 319-320, the disclosure of whichis incorporated by reference herein.

Solvents that may be used in detersive compositions include glycolethers, alcohols, esters such as soy methyl ester, acetates, cyclicacids, and mixtures thereof.

Oxidizing agents that may be used in detersive compositions include thealkali metal hypochlorites such as sodium and potassium hypochlorite,chlorine dioxide solutions, various peracids, and mixtures thereof.

Reducing agents that may be used in detersive compositions include thealkali metal thiosulfates such as sodium thiosulfate, the alkali metalsulfites such as sodium sulfite, the alkali metal metabisulfites such assodium metabisulfite, and mixtures thereof.

Bleaching agents that may be used in detersive compositions includecompounds which release halogens (e.g. Cl, Br, OCl and/or OBr) under theconditions encountered during the cleansing process such as a chlorine,hypochlorite, chloramine, alkali metal dichloroisocyanurates,chlorinated trisodium phosphate, the alkali metal hypochlorides,monochloramine and dichloramine, and the like and the bromine releasingcompounds as well.

Oxygen bleaching agents may also be employed including the peroxygentype or active oxygen source such as hydrogen peroxide, organic andinorganic peroxohydrates, organic peroxyacids includingperoxycarboxylic, peroxyimidic and amidoperoxycarboxylic acids, or theirsalts including alkali metal or mixed-cation salts, perborates, sodiumcarbonate peroxyhydrate, phosphate peroxyhydrates, potassiumpermonosulfate, and sodium perborate mono and tetrahydrate, with andwithout activators such as tetraacetylethylene diamine, peracids whichcan be employed both as free standing and as bleach activators,inorganic peroxides, inorganic peroxoacids and their salts, certainorganic peroxides, and the like, and mixtures thereof.

Bleach activators known in the art may be used in detersive compositionsto activate bleaches. Exemplary bleach activators include, for example,tetraacetyl ethylene diamine (TAED), sodium nonanoyloxybenzenesulphonate (SNOBS), glucose pentaacetate (GPA), tetra acetylmethylenediamine (TAMD), triacetyl cyanurate, sodium sulphonyl ethyl carbonicacid ester, sodium acetyloxybenzene and the mono long-chain acyltetraacetyl glucoses as disclosed in WO 91/10719 incorporated byreference herein in its entirety, choline sulphophenyl carbonate (CSPC)can also be employed, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,751,015 and4,818,426 both of which are incorporated by reference herein in theirentirety.

EXAMPLE 1

A product was manually added to the rinse water or the initial watercharge (feedwater) of a dishwashing machine. The dishwashing machineused was an AM-14 high temperature dishwashing machine from Hobart. Theproduct was added to the dishwashing machine to treat any additionalwater that was added during a cycle.

Exemplary products include:

Dequest 2000 (ATMP—aminotrimethylene phosphonic acid (50% active))

Dequest 2010 (HEDP-1-hydroxyethylene-1,1-diphosphnicacid-hydroxyethylidene diphosphonic acid (60% active))

Optidose 4210 (polymaleic acid, molecular weight 500-1,000, 50% solids)

Alcoguard 4000 (sulfonated polymer)

Alcosperse 240 (copolymer of acrylic acid and sulfonated monomers)

Alcosperse 747 (modified polycarboxylate)

Accusol 587 (weak acid/strong acid (sulfonic) copolymer)

Accusol 586 (weak acid/strong acid (sulfonic) copolymer)

The detergent composition used in the dishwashing machine was a highalkaline solid containing sodium tripolyphosphate and sodium carbonate.The tests were run for 100 cycles on six glasses. The grading system forthe glasses is based on a scale of 1-5 where 1 means no film, 2 meanstrace film, 3 means light film, 4 means medium film, and 5 means heavyfilm. The results of the experiment are reported in Table 1. TABLE 1Glass Component 1 2 3 4 5 6 Total None (Control) 5 3.5 3 3 3 5 22.5Optidose 4210 product 3.5 2.5 1.5 1.5 2 3.5 14.5 Alcoguard 4000 product3.75 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 4 13.75

The Optidose 4210 product and the Alcoguard 4000 product were used atlevels of 5 ppm and 10 ppm, respectively. When the Optidose 4210 productand the Alcoguard 4000 product were used to treat all of the waterentering the dishwashing machine, there was significant improvement infilming of the glasses as compared to the control.

EXAMPLE 2

An exemplary liquid feedwater treatment composition was prepared havingthe following components:

31.2 wt. % Dequest 2010 product

31.2 wt. % Alcosperse 240 product

37.6 wt. % water.

A solid feedwater treatment composition was prepared having thefollowing components:

41.5 wt. % Alcoguard 4000

41.5 wt. % Dequest 2010

17 wt. % sodium hydroxide.

A solid feedwater treatment composition was prepared including acarbonate scale inhibitor and having the following components:

68.5 wt. % Dequest 2010

31.5 wt. % sodium hydroxide.

1. A method for treating feedwater comprising: (a) introducing atreatment composition into feedwater to provide treated feedwatercontaining a scale inhibitor at a concentration of at least about 0.1ppm; and (b) combining the treated feedwater stream with a detersivecomposition to provide a use composition.
 2. A method according to claim1, wherein the treated feedwater comprises the scale inhibitor at aconcentration of about 0.1 ppm to about 200 ppm.
 3. A method accordingto claim 1, wherein the scale inhibitor comprises carbonate scaleinhibitor, phosphate scale inhibitor, or mixture of carbonate scaleinhibitor and phosphonate scale inhibitor.
 4. A method according toclaim 3, wherein the treated feedwater comprises about 1 ppm to about100 ppm of a mixture of the carbonate scale inhibitor and the phosphatescale inhibitor.
 5. A method according to claim 3, wherein the phosphatescale inhibitor comprises a polymer resulting from a reaction of anolefinically unsaturated carboxylic acid monomer and copolymerizablemonomer comprising sulfonated monomer, nonionic monomer, or mixture ofsulfonated monomer and nonionic monomer.
 6. A method according to claim5, wherein the olefinically unsaturated carboxylic acid monomercomprises a C₃-C₄₀ monocarboxylic acid, a C₃-C₄₀ dicarboxylic acid, or aC₃-C₄₀ polycarboxylic acid.
 7. A method according to claim 6, whereinthe olefinically unsaturated carboxylic acid monomer comprises an acid,a salt, or an anhydride.
 8. A method according to claim 6, wherein theolefinically unsaturated carboxylic acid comprises acrylic acid,methacrylic acid, ethacrylic acid, alpha-chloro-acrylic acid,alpha-cyano acrylic acid, beta methyl-acrylic acid, alpha-phenylacrylicacid, beta-acryloxy propionic acid, sorbic acid, alpha-chloro sorbicacid, angelic acid, cinnamic acid, p-chloro cinnamic acid, beta-styrylacrylic acid, itaconic acid, maleic acid, citraconic acid, mesaconicacid, glutaconic acid, aconitic acid, fumaric acid, ortricarboxyethylene, or mixture thereof.
 9. A method according to claim6, wherein the carboxylic monomer comprises monoolefinic acrylic acidhaving a substituent selected from hydrogen, halogen, hydroxyl, C₁-C₂₀alkyl, C₆-C₁₂ aryl, C₆-C₁₆ aralkyl, C₇-C₁₆ alkaryl, C₅-C₁₆cycloaliphatic, or mixture thereof.
 10. A method according to claim 1,wherein the scale inhibitor comprises a carbonate scale inhibitorcomprising phosphonate, polycarboxylate, phosphinocarboxylatephosphonocarboxylate, phosphinocaboxylate, or mixture thereof.
 11. Amethod according to claim 1, further comprising: (a) contacting the usecomposition with an article.
 12. A method according to claim 11, whereinthe article comprises motor vehicle exterior, textile, food contactingarticle, clean-in-place (CIP) equipment, hard surface, or mixturethereof.
 13. A method according to claim 1, wherein the scale inhibitorcomprises a mixture of carbonate scale inhibitor and phosphate scaleinhibitor at a weight ratio of the carbonate scale inhibitor to thephosphate scale inhibitor of about 1:1 to about 1:10.
 14. A methodaccording to claim 11, further comprising: (a) rinsing the usecomposition from the article.
 15. A method according to claim 1, whereinthe detersive composition comprises a cleaning composition, a rinseagent composition, or a drying agent composition.
 16. A treatmentcomposition comprising: (a) about 5 wt. % to about 95 wt. % of a scaleinhibitor; (b) at least about 5 wt. % of: (i) a solidifying agent toprovide the treatment composition as a solid; and (ii) a diluent toprovide the treatment composition as a flowable liquid.
 17. A treatmentcomposition according to claim 16, wherein the treatment composition isprovided as a solid and comprises about 10 wt. % to about 90 wt. % ofthe scale inhibitor and about 10 wt. % to about 90 wt. % of thesolidifying agent.
 18. A treatment composition according to claim 16,wherein the treatment composition is provided as a liquid and comprisesabout 5 wt. % to about 75 wt. % of the scale inhibitor and about 25 wt.% to about 75 wt. % of the diluent.
 19. A treatment compositioncomprising: (a) about 10 wt. % to about 100 wt. % of a scale inhibitor;and (b) the treatment composition being provided in the form of acompressed block having a size of about 1 pound to about 10 pounds. 20.A treatment composition according to claim 17, wherein the solidifyingagent comprises polyethylene glycol, a mixture of polyethylene glycols,urea, or a salt of an alkaline metal hydroxide
 21. A treatmentcomposition according to claim 18, wherein the diluent comprises water.22. An apparatus for treating feedwater comprising: (a) a feedwaterinlet for providing feedwater; (b) a treated feedwater outlet forproviding treated feedwater; (c) a treatment composition reservoircomprising a treatment composition comprising a scale inhibitor; and (d)a treatment composition delivery line for introducing the treatmentcomposition from the treatment composition reservoir into the feedwaterto provide the treated feedwater comprising about 0.1 ppm to about 200ppm of the scale inhibitor.
 23. An apparatus according to claim 23,further comprising a venturi for drawing the treatment composition fromthe treatment composition reservoir into the feedwater.
 24. An apparatusaccording to claim 23, wherein the treatment composition delivery linecomprises a valve for controlling the flow of the treatment compositioninto the feedwater.
 25. An apparatus according to claim 22, furthercomprising a pump for introducing the treatment composition from thetreatment composition reservoir into the feedwater.